ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A long wanted for the crime of sexual assault and violations of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) spent his New Year in jail following his arrest morning of Jan 1, 2019 in Janiuay, Iloilo. Rodulfo Sarandona, 59, of Brgy. Jaena Norte Jamindan, Capiz […] The post Man wanted for sexual assault nabbed appeared first on The Daily Guardian......»»

Manny Pacquiao is back "home", so to speak. After arriving in Los Angeles over the weekend, the eight-division boxing world champion wasted little time in getting to work for his upcoming title defense against Adrien Broner on January 19th. The Holiday season did little to slow Pacman down, as he began training on Christmas Eve, at a very familiar training ground. The champ is back at the Wild Card. @mannypacquiao spends Christmas Eve training at the famed gym. #PacquiaoBroner #boxing 🇵🇭👊🏼🥊 pic.twitter.com/QVQH4YEJzn — Steve Angeles (@StevieAngeles) December 25, 2018 After opting to hold camp at his real home in General Santos for his last bout against Lucas Matthysse, Pacquiao is back at the world famous Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, owned and operated by none oher than Pacquiao's long-time coach Freddie Roach. Pacquiao and Roach have confirmed that they will be working together for the Broner fight, but this time around, Pacquiao's best friend Buboy Fernandez will stay on as head coach, while Roach will be serving as a consultant. Fernandez said Team Pacquiao will be discussing how to go about things, especially with Roach. Prior to getting work in at Wild Card however, Pacquiao and team began the day by going on a morning jog around the Griffith Observatory, and joining him was his eldest son Jimuel, who says he'll try to keep up with his dad's training all week. As Manny continues to work throughout the holidays, the Filipino boxing icon has a message to all his fellow Filipinos back home and all over the world. "Thank you so much. God bless you all praying for more success, and of course unity, and protection to each and everyone of us. Maraming salamat sa inyong magmamahal [at] dasal. Lagi din akong nag-dadasal para sa [inyo]. Maraming salamat, God bless, Merry Christmas and advanced Happy New Year to you all." Pacquiao will be defending his WBA (Regular) Welterweight World Championship against Broner at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 19th. H/T: Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN News.....»»

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, December 5, assured Overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs) of the government’s protection underscoring their contributions to national development. Noting that OFWs are considered the modern-day heroes who send multi-billion dollar remittances back home. The President referred to our OFW’s as “the lifeblood of the country.” “As appreciation for all your […].....»»

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, December 5, assured Overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs) of the government’s protection underscoring their contributions to national development. Noting that OFWs are considered the modern-day heroes who send multi-billion dollar remittances back home. The President referred to our OFW’s as “the lifeblood of the country.” “As appreciation for all your […].....»»

While Filipinos would take every "Undas" as a chance to visit the grave of departed loved ones in cemeteries, this group has a different agenda. For years, volunteers from the Tzu Chi Foundation, a Taiwan-based non-government organization that promotes environmental protection, collect sacks of plasticbottles in cemeteries during this season and later transform them to useable items. Margie Gorospe, a volunteer for eight years now, is stationed at Manila North Cemetery this year. She's been collecting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, plastic cups, and cartons since October 31. By Friday, the group has already collected a total...Keep on reading: From plastic to blankets, shirts: Group recycles trash from cemeteries.....»»

FILIPINOS will have to tighten their belts a bit more as the holiday season approaches as more than half of noche buena products increased their suggested retail prices (SRP) this year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). DTI undersecretary Ruth Castelo – who also heads the department’s consumer protection group — said […].....»»

Economic managers like to say that there are enough jobs in this country. Yet Filipinos continue to leave the country in droves, in search of employment that provides better pay, other forms of remuneration and social protection......»»

NBA press release The NBA today issued the following statement about the report by independent investigators regarding workplace conditions at the Dallas Mavericks, following allegations made in a Feb. 20, 2018 Sports Illustrated article: Upon learning of the allegations, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban notified the NBA and an independent investigation was launched with oversight from the league office. Anne Milgram, former Attorney General of New Jersey, a Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar at New York University School of Law, and currently Special Counsel at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, and Evan Krutoy, who spent more than 20 years as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and currently heads Krutoy Law, P.C., led the seven-month investigation. The league’s oversight function was led by David Anders, a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The report was based on information gathered from 215 interviews with current and former Mavericks employees who worked for the team during the past two decades and from the evaluation of more than 1.6 million documents, including emails and other electronic documents. Following the launch of the independent investigation, the Mavericks, under Mr. Cuban’s direction, hired a new Chief Executive Officer, Cynthia Marshall, a former AT&T senior executive, who has since implemented a massive overhaul to improve the organization’s workplace culture. While the investigation was ongoing, Mr. Cuban and Ms. Marshall took a series of steps to enhance the team’s workplace policies and procedures. Under Ms. Marshall’s direction, the Mavericks have replaced or added several new leadership positions in the organization, including a new head of Human Resources, a Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, a head of Diversity & Inclusion and a new General Counsel. The Mavericks also instituted mandatory “Respect in the Workplace” training for all employees and ownership; created a confidential hotline for employees to share concerns, issues or allegations of misconduct; and established employee resource teams and an external advisory council to ensure a more diverse and collaborative work environment. Ms. Milgram’s and Mr. Krutoy’s extensive investigation, with full cooperation from Mr. Cuban and the Mavericks organization, resulted in a detailed understanding of the scope and substance of the issues. Among the investigation’s key findings: - The investigation substantiated numerous instances of sexual harassment and other improper workplace conduct within the Mavericks organization over a period spanning more than twenty years. - Among other things, the investigation found: - Improper workplace conduct toward fifteen female employees by the Mavericks’ former President and CEO Terdema Ussery, including inappropriate comments, touching, and forcible kissing; - Improper workplace conduct by former Mavericks ticket sales employee Chris Hyde, including inappropriate comments to women of a sexual nature, the viewing and sharing of pornographic images and videos, unsolicited and unwanted sexual advances, and violent and threatening outbursts toward co-workers; and - Two acts of domestic violence perpetrated by former Mavs.com reporter Earl Sneed, including one against a team employee. - The investigators concluded that Mavericks’ management was ineffective, including a lack of compliance and internal controls, and that these shortcomings permitted the growth of an environment in which acts of misconduct and the individuals who committed them could flourish. In particular, the investigators found: - The Mavericks executive leadership team failed to respond adequately and committed a significant error in judgment by retaining Mr. Sneed following his domestic violence incidents; and - The Mavericks’ executive leadership team was responsible for allowing Mr. Hyde to remain employed with the organization despite his inappropriate and problematic behavior, and failed adequately to address his various acts of misconduct. - The investigators found no evidence that Mr. Cuban was aware of Mr. Ussery’s misconduct. None of the 215 witnesses who were interviewed stated that they informed Mr. Cuban of Mr. Ussery’s actions, the investigators found no documentary evidence of such a communication, and Mr. Cuban stated that he did not know about the conduct. The investigation report also contains a series of recommendations for changes to the Mavericks’ organization, including: - Increasing the number of women on staff, including in leadership positions; - Enhancing formal reporting processes for victims of misconduct; - Implementing regular anonymous employee surveys to evaluate workplace culture; and - Expanding and improving the Mavericks’ Human Resources department and instituting clear protocols for investigating workplace misconduct. The report confirms that several of these steps have already been taken, including the hiring of Ms. Marshall and other new senior female leaders, and notes that “we heard from employees of a sea change in the professional environment at the Mavericks that began almost immediately following” the publication of the Sports Illustrated article. In recognition of the institutional and other failures set forth in the report, Mr. Cuban has agreed to contribute $10 million to organizations that are committed to supporting the leadership and development of women in the sports industry and combating domestic violence. These organizations will be selected by an advisory council of leaders from the Mavericks, including Mr. Cuban and Ms. Marshall, and the NBA, including President of Social Responsibility & Player Programs Kathy Behrens, President of Team Marketing & Business Operations and Chief Innovation Officer Amy Brooks, and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Oris Stuart. Additionally, the NBA is requiring the Mavericks to: - Provide the league office with quarterly reports regarding the recommendations set forth in the report and their implementation; - Immediately report to the league office any instances or allegations of significant misconduct by any employee; - Continually enhance and update annual “Respect in the Workplace” training for all staff, including ownership; and - Implement a program to train all staff, including ownership, on issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. “The findings of the independent investigation are disturbing and heartbreaking and no employee in the NBA, or any workplace for that matter, should be subject to the type of working environment described in the report,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We appreciate that Mark Cuban reacted swiftly, thoroughly and transparently to the allegations first set forth in Sports Illustrated – including the immediate hiring of Cynthia Marshall as CEO to effect change, but as Mark has acknowledged, he is ultimately responsible for the culture and conduct of his employees. While nothing will undo the harm caused by a select few former employees of the Mavericks, the workplace reforms and the $10 million that Mark has agreed to contribute are important steps toward rectifying this past behavior and shining a light on a pervasive societal failing -- the inability of too many organizations to provide a safe and welcoming workplace for women.” Following the allegations made in the Sports Illustrated article, the NBA conducted a thorough review of its existing policies and procedures related to respect in the workplace, and required all NBA teams to do the same. In addition, the league established a confidential leaguewide hotline for team and league employees to report workplace misconduct including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation. While many of the recommendations contained in the investigation report are already part of established practice at the league office, any that are not will shortly be adopted. The report of the independent investigation is available here......»»

The House Committee on Welfare of Children has approved a substitute bill that seeks to deter the the exploitation of minors and impose stiffer penalties for those who abuse them. Following a hearing conducted last Sep. 3, the committee members approved a substitute bill that seeks to amend several sections of the "Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act" (Republic Act No. 7610). The substitute bill was authored by Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman and 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Michael Romero. In a statement, Roman said the law needed updating as the penalties imposed do not seem attuned to the 21st century. She said the government en...Keep on reading: House panel OKs substitute bill seeking stiffer penalties for child abuse.....»»

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed Republic Act 11058 or An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS), seeking to ensure the provision of safe and healthy workplace in the country. The law provides full protection for workers against hazards in their places of employment. It mandates the labor secretary to issue […].....»»

In the first ever Skechers Performance Run headlined by Gerald Anderson, the celebrity-athlete placed fifth in the 5KM route after clocking in at 23 minutes and 20 seconds, Sunday morning at the Mall of Asia Complex. Sporting the latest Skechers Performance shoes outfitted with all-new Flight Gen midsole technology, Anderson ran alongside teammates from MPBL team Marikina Shoemasters and Star Magic Basketball Team. Flight Gen is a new generation midsole designed to provide a highly responsive ride with plenty of cushion protection. Anderson wore specifically a Go Run 6 model in black and red colorway. The run featured three categories: 5k, 10k, and 21k run distances to cater to all sorts runners, from beginners to veterans. In the 21KM route, Joseph Mururi placed first at 1:15:13. While in the 10KM route, Edward Macalalad, with a time of 37:12, finished first. Joseph Odhuno clocked in at 19:22 to top the 5KM division. The Skechers inaugural event which was participated by hundreds of Filipinos was brought to you by Skechers Performance, co-presented by Takbo.ph and Leadpack......»»

As they enter the second year of their partnership, Allianz PNB Life and HSBC Insurance Brokers (Philippines) Inc. launched a collection of protection products that offer to deliver the "fastest fund accumulation" in the local market. "Our primary mission is to provide sound financial advice to empower Filipinos in their decision-making," Olaf Kliesow, CEO and president of Allianz PNB Life, said in a statement. HSBC is banking on young Filipinos seeking professional advice and its network of clients on the lookout for exceptional investment opportunities. "This year, we are looking forward to offering new investment opportunities to ensure the quality of life for generations to ...Keep on reading: Allianz PNB, HSBC unit roll out new products.....»»

Seven Filipinos are facing strings of charges for qualified trafficking, child abuse and sexual abuse filed by the Police Women and Children Protection Center in Central Visayas last July 5. The filing of at least 40 charges against the suspects was made following the conviction of Swedish national Bengt Kristoffersson, 58, in a court in […].....»»

Since 2011, the government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has implemented the SocPen (Social Pension) Program, which gives a noncontributory monthly pension of P500 to qualified seniors, i.e., indigent Filipinos aged 60 years and above. SocPen was established to help fulfill objectives ........»»

Today on Rappler: President Rodrigo Duterte forms a 3-member committee to dialogue with the Catholic Church . Human Rights Watch or HRW slams the anti-tambay campaign as another effort to target poor Filipinos. President Rodrigo Duterte says ‘tambays’ or loiterers below 18 years old should be taken into police custody for their own protection. Myanmar's military says it ‘purged’ Major General Maung Maung Soe , the former head of the western command in Rakhine. Apple acknowledges the problem with its keyboards ........»»

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) urged workers to report companies who violate the Anti-Age Discrimination Law. “It is clearly stated in the law that age discrimination in workplaces is prohibited, “said Mr. Nicanor V. Bon, program and policy division chief ng Bureau of Working Conditions (BRW). “Even labor organizations are not allowed to […] The post DoLE urgers workers to report age-discrimination in the workplace appeared first on BusinessWorld......»»